LAS CRUCES — Not since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorists attacks have Las Cruces religious leaders conducted an interfaith prayer service for city residents.

That changed Friday as leaders of the Catholic, Lutheran, Jewish and Muslim faiths in Las Cruces conducted a news conference and prayer service to provide a unified public message of concerns on several proposals from the Trump administration affecting immigrants and refugees.

"This is an especially rare event," said Bishop Emeritus Ricardo Ramírez, of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Las Cruces, who participated in Las Cruces' last interfaith prayer service. "In light of the events of 9/11 and what is happening now, that should provide some kind of insight of why this is so important to the community."

Since Donald Trump assumed the presidency on Jan. 20, he's proposed temporary travel restrictions for residents from seven Muslim-majority countries, stepped up deportation of immigrants illegally living in the U.S., and wants to construct a border wall between Mexico and the U.S.

Religious leaders in Las Cruces said they agree the security of U.S. borders is important, however they are convinced a temporary ban on select refugees will not increase safety and doesn't reflect the shared values of the four religions.

"We urge the current administration to allow these refugee programs to continue their work with citizens from nations that have been temporarily banned," said a portion of a joint statement issued Friday. "We also urge all people to exercise their conscience in contacting those in our nation's leadership to express the convictions of their faith traditions, whatever they may be, and to keep in mind humanitarian concerns as we consider the fate of those created in the divine image."

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Joyce Larsen, right, holds her daughter Rahma Saad, 7 months old, while talking with Malak Alanazi,center left and Patti Carrasco, left, at the interfaith service "Welcoming the Stranger" at St. Albert the Great Newman Center on Friday February 3, 2017.(Photo: Josh Bachman/Sun-News)

"This was a good opportunity for some of us to reflect a little and pray about everything that has happened the past few weeks," said Las Crucen Mary Thomas. "It has been a time of genuine stress for a lot of people, a lot of events for people to process. These are issues that have quite an affect on our community, and more and more people are recognizing that. It's good to know there is so much support from all the different religious organizations. The message we send together has got to be especially strong if we are going to have any hopes it will be listened to and acted upon positively."

The underlying sentiments of Friday's event were to promote hope and affirmation.

"We hope to reaffirm our belief that the United States can and should be a nation that welcomes people seeking opportunity and individuals and families who are hoping to find refuge here from conflict and challenges in their home countries," said a portion of a flier shared among members of the four religions in Las Cruces.

Carson said refugees need more compassion and consideration.

"The actions of this new administration do not represent these shared values of our faith," Carson said. "We stand with those who are looking for a better life in our nation."

Karol said the actions proposed by the Trump administration remind him of the 1924 Immigration Act, which limited the number of immigrants into the U.S. by establishing a quota system.

Jallad reiterated beliefs that Muslims have become a target for travel restrictions and possible deportation because of their religion. Jallad initially expressed his concerns at a Tuesday night rally at the Islamic Center of Las Cruces.

"The long-term concern is that this just the first step for starting a ban," Jallad said.

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Catholic Bishop Oscar Cantú opens the interfaith service "Welcoming the Stranger," at St. Albert the Great Newman Center, Friday February 3, 2017. The Service brought together people of different faiths to discuss the new administrations stances toward refugees and have an all inclusive prayer service.(Photo: Josh Bachman/Sun-News)

Cantú shared an experience of a recent trip he took to Iraq with the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, where he and other bishops visited a refugee camp. Despite the calamity and danger the refugees had experienced in getting to the camp, they showered the bishops with hospitality.

"There was one family there we visited that wasn't wearing any shoes," Cantú said. "They were forced to escape their village in the middle of night and had to leave without time to even put on their shoes. It was cold at the camp the day we visited, but the warmth they showed us made me say to myself I would like to invite them into our community."

Also on Friday, Archbishop John C. Wester, of the Catholic Archdiocese of Santa Fe, released a statement about Trump's executive order on immigration. Wester's statement echoed sentiments shared by Las Cruces religious leaders.

"I am deeply concerned for many of our people in the Archdiocese of Santa Fe and beyond who feel afraid and isolated," said a portion of Wester's statement. "Indeed, during these unsettled times, there are quite a few of us who can easily give into the feeling that we are not safe and that we are in imminent danger from terrorists and other extremists. As a pastor, I believe that it is important to recognize and distinguish between real threats that should concern us and unreal threats that provoke fear because of rhetoric designed to play upon our anxieties as a society. Jesus offers us an alternative: to act out of love and not out of fear."

Wester urged Catholics and "people of good will" to pray daily for peace.